retail

As much as we tire of the old “Internet of Things” adage lately, a more subversive handle is being assigned to things. whenever a service is launched, someone calls it the “Uber of” whatever it is. The latest is a service designed to bring you gadgets quickly, and is founded by a guy who knows a thing or two about standing in line for tech.

If news of the massive data breach affecting Home Depot sounds all too familiar, it might be — more than we know. According to a new report, the malware that cracked Home Depot’s system is the same — or a variant of — the one that affected Target. The malware pinches data when a card is swiped at a point-of-sale terminal in stores.

It's August 28 and Microsoft is finally giving the go signal. Its latest high-end Surface Pro 3 hybrid tablet can can now be purchased in 25 more countries, starting with New Zealand in the farthest East, bringing the total supported markets to 28. In addition, the Docking Station will also be up for pre-orders on those same territories.

Further encroaching on Amazon's comfort zone, Google has started the expansion of its Shopping Express service. Now it is also ready to go through your shopping list for you and bring them right to your doorstep if you happen to reside in West Los Angeles or Manhattan.

There’s a device appearing this week going by the name of Amazon Dash, one that’ll enhance the way users will be able to work with Amazon Fresh. Amazon Fresh is a food and essentials service that only works in a limited set of areas at the moment, delivering fresh goods to users homes. Amazon Dash is a tool users - apparently - carry around and speak to when they remember what they need.

In recent weeks, it was made known Google's Chromecast would be arriving in the United Kingdom sometime this month, giving just about two weeks on the dot for an official launch to take place. Ahead of this, UK retailer Currys is showing the Chromecast on its website.

Google is looking to open its first retail store in the United States in New York, according to "retail experts" that spoke to the folks at Crain's New York Business. The store would be located on Greene Street, which would put it close to a nearby Apple Store on Prince.

We mentioned back in December that word had surfaced that online retailer Overstock.com would begin accepting Bitcoin virtual currency as payment for items purchased on its website. When that initial report was made the Bitcoin payment scheme was expected to start in the second half of 2014. Overstock has significantly accelerated its bitcoin plans.

Head to your local retail outlet this week and you may see an image of their video game and entertainment section a whole lot different from what it was a few weeks ago. Both Microsoft and Sony have successfully ramped up production to keep with the times now - perhaps a moment too late - that the holiday season has arrived. Both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One can once again be found on store shelves - in some stores for the first time ever.

It would appear that the debacle Target is facing this holiday season is turning over as we speak. Though they’d previously suggested that findings showed no PIN data to have been stolen in their 2013 credit card breach, today’s update says otherwise. The positive side of this situation is the fact that these PIN numbers are wholly encrypted.